Method and means for strengthening or reenforcing gunstocks



Feb. 10. 925- 1,525,892-

A. G. scHLossER ET AL.

METHOD AND mews FOR STRENGTHENING on REENFORCING GUNSTOCKS Filed July 27, 1923 Patented Feb. 10, 1925 ARTHUR G. SCHLOSSER AND WILMER N. ELTON, 0F GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR STRENGTHENING OR REENFORCING GUNS'I OCKS.

Application filed July 27,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR G. ScHLossun and 1mins N. ELTON citizens of the United States, residing at Grand Forks, in the county of Grand Forks and 'State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Means for Strengthening or Reenforcing Gunstocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method and means for strengthening or reenforcing gun stocks.

, Gun stocks wherein the stock and tore arm are made from a single piece of wood," instances of which are modern bolt action, sporting, and military rifles, have a tendency in time, to split at the small of the grip due to effect of the force of the recoil. In the United States Army rifle, 1903 model, which is the particular arm with which we have shown our invention combined, the weakest point is where the rear guard screw passes through the stockfor the purpose of fastening the guard to the receiver and inillustrating'a practical embodiment of our invention as we have used this rifle by way of example, the invention is disclosed as adapted thereto.

In applying the invention to rifles of other design, modification may be resorted to to adapt the reinforcement to the particular type of arm to the end that the recoil will be distributed through the reinforcement and its connections over a large area of the stock to prevent splitting at vulnerable points. I

In carrying out our method, parallel cuts are made through, and lengthwise of the stock, preferably from the magazine opening, backwardly through the small of the grip into the solid part of the stock. These cuts may be made by a saw or by any other means suitable for the purpose. Having previously prepared the stock in this fashion, a plurality of plates of suitable thickness and preferably of steel, are insorted in the cuts. Preferably, two plates of duplicate form will be used, such plates being suitably shaped with straight and curved parts and abutment edges so i that when" the rifle action is assembled to the stock, the forward end of the platesabut 1923. Serial No. 654,232.

the magazine, the lower partof the receiver fits tightly between the upper edges of the plates and to the rear of thereceiver the edges of the plates are flush with the wood of the stock. The guard fits tightly between the lower edges of th'e' plates and said edges are at this 'pointflush with' the wood of the stock; the rear edges of the plates are disposed in the solid part of thesto'ck back of the grip and, preferably,abutting a part of the stock. I j r U I The next step is to rivet the plates to the stock which is accomplished by first drilling transversely through the stock and the re enforcing plates at suitable points and then passing rivets therethrough and securing them. I 1

While any desired number of rivets may be used, they are, preferably, so located in relation to the rifle action when the latter is assembled to the stock that the rivets tend to firmly anchor the platesto therifle a-ction and to so connect the plates to the grip part ofthe stock that they will strengthen and stiffen it at its'weakest'point. Tothat end, it is preferable to plaeea. rivet immediatelyto the rearof the guard screw and another to the rear of the magazine because at these points the wood of the stock is compressed. The remaining rivet may be located at the rearmost parts ofthe plates to assist in taking up the recoil whicliwould otherwise be taken by the stockFi- It is to be understood that whiiew haveillustrated our invention in connection-with the United States. Army rifle model o f'1903 and have disclosed reenforcing plates and rivets adapting the invention to that particular arm, this is not by way of limitation of the invention as modification will neces sarily be resorted to according to the design of which the invention is used. So far as we are aware, we are the first. to reinforce the stock of a firearm by the provision of one or more plates,and cross connections, contained therein and, more specifically, by cutting one or more kerfs or slots in the stock, then inserting one or more .reenforcing plates, and finally securing the plate or plates to the stock whether by cross drilling and the insertionof rivets, or otherwise.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l isa side elevation showing so ousl much of a United States Army rifle, model of 1903, as will illustrate the application of our invention thereto, the wooden stock being broken away-to disclose the reenforcing plates and rivets. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view, the rifle action being omitted and Fig. 3.is a detail cross section on the line 8-3, Fig. '1. V

In carrying out our method and reenforcing means, vertical cuts, slots, or kerfs are made throughthe stock by sawing or in any other manner.

The next step is to insert inthese kerfs the vertically arranged plates 1 which are preferably of metal, steel being best adapted for the purpose.

Plates 1 are of a thickness or gaugeadapting them to. snugly fit the walls of the previ- I made cuts, slots, orkerfs and they are of t e general form shown in Fig. 1 when used in connection with the particular firearm illustrated but it. is to be understood that shape and position of these plates may be changed according to the designof the arm WithyNt'lllCll they are used. As illustrated, the front edges of the plates 1 abut the rear end of the magazine 2, the magazine being accommodated, in the vertical opening 7 (Fig. 2) in the stock. This arrangement assists'intaking up the recoil in the. event thatthe recoil. shoulder (not shown) at the forward end of the receiver 3 doesnot fit,tightly against the edge of the recess in the stock. In rifles of other design,

the .plates 1 maybe arranged to abut any Y other-part of the receiver in such manner as to take up the recoil. By thus positioning the plates 1, the recoil is distributed through the plates and their fastenings 5, over a large area of the stock, thus minimizing the chances of the stock splitting from theforce of the recoil.

Reference to Fig. 3 discloses the manner in Which-the upper edges of the forward parts of the plates 1 abut the lower part'of the receiver 3 and this figure'also shows the manner in which the lower edgesof the" forward parts of the plates 1 abut opposite sides of the guard 1. I I

To the rear of the receiver and guard, the

plates 1 lie flush with the upper and lower parts of the wood of the stock;

To fasten the plates 1 together and to" afford additional means for assuming and distributing the force of the recoil as well as strengthening and stiffening the weakest part of the stoclg fastenings 5. pass through the stock and through holes in the plates 1.

Having inserted the plates 1 in the cuts or kerfs as previously described, the stock and the plates are then drilled and the fastenings 5 next inserted. The. fastenings 5 are 'pref erablyrivets which are provided with heads,

countersunk in the stock as shown in Fig. 2.

The number of the fastenings 5 may vary but at least some these fastenings are preferably so placed that when the rifle action is assembled to the stock, they tend to firmly anchor the plates to the rifle action. To that end, one of the rivets may be placed immediately to the rear of the'guard screw 6 and 7 over arelatively large area and chances of,

splitting the stock are minimized; the stock is strengthened atits Weakest point and it is possible to use fancy curly grained wood and certain shapes of grip which would otherwise be too weak to withstand the recoil; the stock is stiffened at the point where it needs to be rigid in order to afford the greatest accuracy in the use of the firearm.

The reenforcing of the stock prevents crosswise of the stock.

2. The method of reenforci ng a gun stock consisting in making a vertical cut or slot therein terminating short of the butt of the stock, inserting a flat reenforcing element in said slot, and 'securing said element to the stockby a fastening device. V

3. The method of reenforcing a gun stock consisting in providing'parallel vertical cuts therein, inserting reenforcing plates in said cuts, and securing said plates to the stock by'a fastening device.

1. The method of 'reenforcing a gun stock consisting'i'n providing parallel vertical cuts therein, inserting reenforcing plates in said cuts, and securing said plates to the stock by transversely arranged fastenings passing through the plates and the stock; 7

5. A firearm stock having an internal [shoulder and provided with an' internal reenforcing element whose'rearward end terminates in the region of the shoulder.

6. A firearm stock provided with an internal reenforcing "plate extending lengthwise thereof and having an abutment for said plate locatedin'wardly from the butt of the stock.

7. A firearm stockprovided with aninterbreakage from the hard usage to which a nal vertically arranged reenforcing plate extending lengthwise thereof, and a crossconnection which secures the plate to the stock.

8. A firearm stock provided with a plu rality of internal vertical reenforcing plates connected to the stock.

9. A firearm stock provided with a plurality of internal vertical reenforcing plates, and fastenings arranged transversely to said plates and connecting them to the stock.

10. In a firearm, the combination with a part of the rifle action and the stock, of a reenforcing element interposed between the stock and the action and abutting a metal part of the firearm and fastened to the stock.

11. In a firearm, the combination with the block of the action thereof, and the stock, of a reenforcing element contained within the stock and fastened thereto whose for ward end abuts a metal part of the firearm.

12. In a firearm, the combination with the magazine, and the stock thereof, of a reenforcing element whose forward edge abuts the magazine and whose rearward edge abuts the stock.

13. In a firearm, the combination with the magazine, and the stock thereof, of a reenforcing element whose forward edge abuts the magazine and whose rearward edge abuts the stock, and cross connections fastening the element to the stock.

14. In a firearm, the combination with the receiver, the magazine, the guard, and the stock, of a pair of reenforcing plates whose forward edges abut the magazine and which flank the receiver and the guard and whose rearward edges abut the stock, and cross fastenings extending through the plates and securing them to the stock, certain ones of said fastenings being located in the region of the rear of the magazine and of the guard fastening.

In testimony whereof we afliX our signatures.

ARTHUR G. SCHLOSSER. WILMER N. ELTON. 

